Best Internal Communications Software
Reach every employee—from desk workers to frontline—with communications that actually get read
TL;DR
Slack remains the standard for real-time team communication. Workvivo excels at company-wide employee engagement and internal social. ContactMonkey adds analytics to email newsletters for Outlook environments. For deskless workers, platforms like Beekeeper or Staffbase specialize in mobile-first frontline communication.
Internal communications is more than Slack channels. It encompasses company-wide announcements, employee newsletters, all-hands content, and reaching frontline workers who don't sit at computers. Different tools serve different needs: real-time chat, async announcements, employee engagement platforms, and newsletter tools. Here's how to think about the landscape.
What is Internal Communications Software?
Internal comms tools help organizations communicate with employees. Categories include: real-time messaging (Slack, Teams), employee engagement platforms (Workvivo, Workplace), internal newsletters (ContactMonkey, Staffbase), and frontline worker apps. The goal: ensure employees stay informed, aligned, and connected to company culture.
Why Internal Comms Matters
Poor internal communication costs companies significantly—in productivity, engagement, and alignment. Employees who feel informed are more engaged. Change initiatives fail without communication. Remote and hybrid work has made intentional communication even more critical. Good internal comms creates culture; poor comms destroys it.
Key Features to Look For
Multi-Channel Reach
essentialReach employees through email, app, intranet, and messaging
Mobile Access
essentialReach deskless and frontline workers on their phones
Analytics
importantTrack open rates, engagement, and reach of communications
Segmentation
importantTarget communications to specific teams, locations, or roles
Two-Way Communication
importantEnable employee feedback, not just top-down broadcasts
Integration
importantConnect with HRIS, collaboration tools, and other systems
Content Management
nice-to-haveOrganize and schedule communications
Social Features
nice-to-haveEmployee recognition, profiles, and community building
Key Factors to Consider
- Workforce type: desk-based vs. frontline vs. mixed
- Current tools: Microsoft environment vs. Google vs. other
- Communication needs: real-time chat vs. announcements vs. engagement
- Scale: team of 50 vs. enterprise of 50,000
- Reach challenges: are employees actually reading communications?
Pricing Overview
Internal comms tools range from team chat (included with productivity suites) to enterprise employee platforms.
Basic
$0-$5/user/month
Small teams, real-time chat
Professional
$5-$10/user/month
Growing companies, enhanced features
Enterprise
$10-$25/user/month
Large organizations, full employee platform
Top Picks
Based on features, user feedback, and value for money.
Slack
Top PickThe standard for real-time team communication
Best for: Knowledge workers wanting instant messaging and channel-based communication
Pros
- Excellent UX
- Great integrations
- Channel organization
- Industry standard
Cons
- Not designed for broadcasts
- Can be noisy
- Less suitable for frontline
- Pricing per active user
Workvivo
Employee engagement and internal social platform
Best for: Organizations wanting to build culture and engagement beyond just messaging
Pros
- Employee engagement focus
- Good for company culture
- Social features
- Reaches all employees
Cons
- Another platform to manage
- Requires adoption effort
- Not for real-time chat
- Enterprise pricing
ContactMonkey
Internal email analytics for Outlook environments
Best for: Companies using Outlook wanting better internal newsletter analytics
Pros
- Works with existing email
- Good analytics
- Template builder
- Easy adoption
Cons
- Email-only solution
- Requires Outlook/Gmail
- Limited to newsletters
- Not a full platform
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Adding tools without strategy—more channels doesn't mean better communication
- Assuming Slack = internal comms—it's chat, not strategic communication
- Ignoring frontline workers—they need mobile-first solutions
- No measurement—you can't improve what you don't track
- One-way broadcasting—employees disengage without voice
Expert Tips
- Different content for different channels—all-hands vs. team updates vs. urgent alerts
- Measure reach and engagement—are communications actually getting through?
- Enable two-way feedback—communication, not broadcasting
- Consider mobile-first for frontline—they don't read email
- Less is more—over-communication creates noise that gets ignored
The Bottom Line
Slack/Teams handles real-time team communication well but isn't designed for company-wide comms. Workvivo and similar platforms serve employee engagement and culture needs. ContactMonkey adds intelligence to email newsletters. Match the tool to the communication challenge—most organizations need multiple approaches, not one platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Slack good for internal communications?
For real-time team communication, yes. For company-wide announcements, strategic communications, and reaching frontline workers—not really. Slack is conversation, not publication. Use it for what it's designed for; add other tools for other needs.
How do I reach frontline workers?
Mobile apps designed for deskless workers (Beekeeper, Staffbase, Workvivo). SMS for urgent alerts. Digital signage in break rooms. Don't expect them to check email or Slack—they're not at computers.
How do I get employees to actually read internal comms?
Make it relevant (segment by role/location), make it brief (respect their time), make it valuable (not just corporate fluff), and make it accessible (right channel for the audience). Measure and improve based on engagement data.
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